5 things to consider before buying a power bank

Power banks make life easier by keeping portable devices charged wherever you go. Whether you are going camping, traveling overseas or commuting to work, power banks are a must-have electronic accessory. But there are so many brands making a variety of power banks, which one is the best? Here are five things to consider before buying a power bank.

What is a power bank?

A power bank is a portable charger for mobile devices. Like a smartphone, it contains multiple Li-ion batteries allowing you to charge on-the-go. They come in various shapes and sizes but all perform the same core function: charging.

Capacity (battery size)

The capacity – or how much power a portable charger holds – is an important factor to consider. Capacities can range from 2000mAh to over 30000mAh. If your smartphone or mobile device has a battery size of 3000mAh, you can charge it fully once with a 4000mAh power bank and still have some juice left over. With a 10000mAh power bank, you can charge your mobile device up to three times! However, the larger the battery, the bigger the size and weight.

Physical size and weight

If you need a power bank with a large capacity, then you’ll have to sacrifice a little bit of portability. 2000-4000mAh power banks are not much bigger than a permanent marker and are convenient for daily commutes and short trips. Power banks with capacities of 10000mAh to 20000mAh or more are considerably bigger and heavier because of how many batteries are inside the device.

Number of ports

How many devices do you need to charge at one time? The amount of ports on a power bank can severely limit you and your friends if you need to charge more than one device. Ideally, a power bank with two or more USB ports is best. With two ports, you can charge a phone and a tablet or laptop at the same time.

3.5. It’s also important to consider the type of port: USB-A or USB-C? USB-C can charge faster than Micro-USB or Lightning. As more devices adopt USB Type-C ports, it’s an advantage to have a power bank with such a port.

How fast it can charge

Wall chargers can charge a mobile device within one hour. Standard power banks take longer to fully charge a mobile device (an hour or more!). But there are proprietary charging technologies from several brands promising to charge a smartphone up to 60-80% in 30 minutes, for example Qualcomm’s Quick Charge.

4.5. While Quick Charge is an excellent way to charge your device faster, USB-C is another option. USB-C provides enough power and speed to charge large devices such as laptops and the new Nintendo Switch.

Extra functions and cool tricks

Power banks are not just limited to charging a device. There are a handful of power banks on the market that do more. Some come with a handy LED flashlight to light up the night; others heat up to double as hand warmers for the winter season. Finally, some power banks are built rugged to handle falls and even the occasional dip in water.

There are other factors to consider when purchasing a power bank, such as safety certifications, price and brand reputation. eeco’s power banks meet safety certifications like FC, CE & RoHS. Thanks to the eeco Promise, it anything goes wrong, all products are covered by a 24-month warranty.